Photo: On left is 2017-2018 President Mark Sitar; on right is 2018 ‘Rotarian of the Year’ Johnny Roberts.
The Rotary Club of Temecula Sunrise recently honored its Rotarian of the Year 2018, Johnny Roberts, with a plaque and a standing ovation. The award was presented to him by President Mark Sitar, who himself was sponsored into the club in 2014 by his friend Johnny.
Roberts has been a member of the club since 2013 and served as its president for two full years. He has brought to the club many years of Rotary institutional knowledge, having previously been a member of clubs in Murrieta, Temecula, Riverside, and the Ohio cities of Westerville, Newark and Columbus beginning in 1989.
Roberts graduated from Ohio University, Athens, Ohio (B.A. Radio/TV) 1972-1975. He is a Vietnam veteran and was with the U.S. Navy Seabees, Petty Officer 3rd Class 1968-1970, Heavy Equipment Operator.
He is well-known throughout the Temecula business community, and is founder and director of Manzanita Ranch, where the horses are the therapy, especially for veterans.
His Rotary history reads like a “Who’s Who?” and includes a previous selection as Rotarian of the Year by the Murrieta Rotary Club in 2004. He has been a passionate supporter of Rotaplast for many years, and he has spent 12 years as a Discussion Group Leader at the District 5330 RYLA camps (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards), another of his great passions. Under his leadership, the Temecula Sunrise Rotary Club assumed responsibility of the Community Christmas Dinner where 1700 people are served on Christmas day. In his long list of contributions, he is a Paul Harris Fellow +4.
Roberts also is active in the Rotary District 5330 management and has attended two International Conferences: Salt Lake City and L.A., as well as volunteering at the L.A. International Conference.
For more information about Temecula Sunrise Rotary and its work in the community, please call 951-698-6116. The club meets every Tuesday at 7:30 am at Journey’s End at Pechanga, the golf course restaurant.